Company K

The following is from History of the 78th Regiment O.V.V.I, from its “Muster-In” to its “Muster-Out;” comprising Its Organization, Marches, Campaigns, Battles and Skirmishes, by Rev. Thomas M. Stevenson, Chaplain of the Regiment:

[Company K] was raised in Muskingum, Monroe, Belmont and Noble Counties, by John W. Cornyn, of Zanesville, and organized January 11th, 1862. John W. Cornyn was appointed Captain, John T. Hamilton First Lieutenant, and James Carothers Second Lieutenant. The company was made up of strong, robust men. This company had more foreigners in it than any other company in the regiment; owing to the fact, perhaps, that the Captain was a Catholic, many of his persuasion enlisted with him to assist in crushing rebellion and punish treason in the country of their adopted homes.

The company did good and faithful service and suffered severely during the war, taking a part in all the campaigns and battles of the regiment.

The Captain was a hard worker, a man full of energy and life, and has had much experience in the management of men, especially foreigners, as he was a long time a rail road contractor.

He was a very agreeable, social, pleasant companion, somewhat impulsive in character, he was quick to act, and readily discerned the minds of men.

He served with his company till February, 1863, when he was appointed Captain and Commissary of Subsistence, and assigned to General Ewing’s staff.

Lieutenant John W. Hamilton, on account of ill health resigned his commission, August 20th, 1862.

He was a quiet unassuming man and against his moral character we know nothing.

Lieutenant James Carothers was taken prisoner a few days after the battle of Raymond, Mississippi. He and Captain Wallar were taken suddenly sick during the progress of the Raymond battle. Wallar did not return to the regiment until Vicksburg was invested, which was some ten days, and his company having been in three fights during that time. Carothers being at a citizen’s house, was carried off by the guerrillas and taken to Libby Prison, where he remained for about fifteen months.

Lieutenant Hugh Dunne was promoted to Captain and assigned to Company “K,” March 12th, 1864.

He brought the company home, with the regiment, on veteran furlough and after returning to the field it did much efficient service in the Atlanta campaign. Captain Dunne resigned shortly after the fall of Atlanta, owing to the fact that his time had almost expired, and the press of business at home.

James Brennan of “C” Company, was promoted to Second Lieutenant June 9th, 1863, and assigned to “K” Company. In April 1864, he was dishonorably mustered out of service on account of intemperance.

Lieutenant George W. Porter was promoted to Captain and assigned to “K” Company, December 15th, 1864, but being an officer of marked ability, he still remained on General Leggett’s staff as Aid-de-Camp.

H. W. McCarty, Sergeant of “E” Company, was promoted to Second Lieutenant, and assigned to “K” Company.

John Kennedy, Sergeant-Major of the regiment, was promoted to Second Lieutenant, and assigned to this company also. No other changes were made in the officers till the muster out of the regiment.

Under these young officers the company was orderly and efficient in drill.

H. W. McCarty had been a very efficient Sergeant and promised being a good and useful officer.

The following were the names of the non-commissioned officers and enlisted men of the original organization:

Sergeants

1. J. B. Thompson

2. E. Delong

3. D. W. McDaniel

4. H. Hacket

5. Charles Billman

Corporals

1. Jams Gallagher

2. William E. Bostwick

3. Joseph Jeffers

4. James M. Dillon

5. Thomas McCusker

6. Patrick Harvey

7. William Delong

8. William Poulton

Henry C. Roush, 1st Musician; John Morrison, 2nd Musician; John Hodgell, Wagoner.

Privates

Antill, William

Burkhart, John

Barnes, William E.

Brown, Thomas F.

Brown, Michael

Bowman, Samuel

Coon, Peter

Clark, Isaac

Carothers, Thomas

Delong, Thomas

Dillen, William

Dillen, Thomas

Denbow, William

Denbow, James [— died of disease contracted in camp, Lewisville, Ohio, April 18, 1863]

Denbow, John [— died of disease, Paducah, Ky., April 14, 1862]

Denbow, Martin

Denbow, Bazzel

English, Edward

Fracker, Frank

Fordyce, Samuel

Floyd, Aaron

Gallagher, Edmund

Gray, Henry

Gray, George

Giesey, Samuel

Greenbank, John

Godfrey, Francis

Higinbotom, Ezra

Horn, Adam

Hacket, William

Hays, Robert

Hays, Henry

Hunt, Burr

Hoffman, Conrid

Henthorn, Ellis

Jeffers, Joseph

Jeffers, John

Jeffers, Pias

Jeffers, Joseph J.

Jackson, Foster

Jordin, William

Jordin, Thomas

Kadatz, Ludwig

Keiger, Jacob

Lumbattus, George

McConaughy, Daniel

McConaughy, Jesse

Meintel, Leo

Mott, Menander

Morris, John

Myrick, Myrick

McCammon, Frederick

Newart, Federick

Norris, John

Norville, Paton

Poulston, Levi

Paith, David

Potts, James II

Rapp, John

Reed, Hiram

Robbins, Swazy

Slack, James

Slack, Elisha

Snyder, Uylston

Scott, John W.

Sotton, James

Tidd, William

Tompkins, James

Wagoner, Isaac

Winland, Charles

Waters, Roderick

Yockey, Henry

Drafted and Substitutes

Armstrong, Samuel, drafted

Adams, Charles, drafted

Amnos, Charter, R., drafted

Aler, James, drafted

Bruce, Washington, drafted

Carter, William, drafted

Coon, Eli, drafted

Clantz, Jacob II, drafted

Clarkson, Samuel, drafted

Cade, Thomas J., drafted — discharged for disability

Canny, Elmer II., drafted

Calhoun, Henry N., drafted

Denbow, Levi, drafted

Daugherty, Thomas, drafted

Dyer, Joshua, substitute

Deckard, Enoch R., drafted

Ditzler, Daniel E. drafted — died of disease in hospital

Davis, Pleasant W., drafted

Faulkner, Paul, drafted — died of disease in hospital

Gleason, Joseph, drafted — died of disease in camp

Goff, Solomon, drafted

Gill, Daniel, drafted

Hooper, John II, drafted

Holley, James L., drafted

Hamley, Levi, drafted — drowned in Tar river, North Carolina, May 1, 1865

Jay, Harrison W., drafted, died of disease in hospital

Jones, Leander, M., drafted

Linard, John, drafted

Lindon, William, drafted

Meek, David, substitute

McCue James, drafted

Massie, Robert, drafted

McWhorter, William, drafted

Mosier, Joseph, substitute

Newman, Samuel, drafted

Pendell, David, drafted

Peart, John, drafted

Powell, William H., drafted

Phillips, Solomon, drafted

Purdy, Lemuel, substitute

Swaim, Nathan S., drafted

Smith, Anthony, drafted

Spangler, John, drafted

Thompson, Thomas, drafted — killed by lightning, March 15th, 1865

Welftey, Geore F., drafted — discharged for disability

Ward, Joel, drafted — died of disease

Weir, George, drafted

Wilson, James, drafted

Yats, Jacob, drafted

Young, McKensie, drafted.

Those after whom no remarks are placed were mustered out of service June 30th, 1865, in accordance with instructions from War Department.